The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reports that the US envoy to Syria, Tom Barak, who visited Lebanon last week, told Lebanese President Joseph Aoun that Washington is working hard to improve the political and economic situation in Syria and is interested in seeing a higher level of contacts between Syria and Israel soon to end the state of war and hostility between them. 

Barak expressed hope that Lebanon will examine this attempt to end the state of war and hostility with Israel, in order to avoid any conflict on one side and to allow Lebanon to receive assistance that will help it in the process of economic recovery.